“ GONE TO SOUTH AFRICA ”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 5

“ GONE TO SOUTH AFRICA ”

DIVORCE ON GROUNDS OF DESERTION. After being parted from her husband for nineteen years, a divorce has been granted to Mary Ann Crichton, who asked in the Divorce Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Hosking, for dissolution of her marriage with George Crichton on the ground of desertion. Before calling evidence, Mr. O’Leary said that in 1902, when the parties were living at Papakura, they made an arrangement that petitioner should go to Feilding, also that respondent should sell whatever chattels he possessed, and should later follow bis wife and child. Mrs. Crichton and the child went t o Feilding, but two weeks afterwards the child died. Information was sent to the husband. There was no answer, until a telegram was received, purporting to come from respondent’s brother, stating "Deeply sorry. George gone South Africa.” For seventeen years, said petitioner, she had looked after herself. The respondent had written to her on one occasion, proving that he was not in South Africa, but she did not answer the letter.

Corroborative evidence was given by the brother-in-law of petitioner. "It’s nineteen years since the desertion.” remarked His Honour. "How is it you’ve been so long taking proceedings?” "I didn't like to go to court," replied the petitioner. i, A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months.